franklin skidder

[tapper2]

I 'm new to this forum, and I just picked up an older franklin skidder really cheap. Anyone have info. about these old dogs?

[beenthere]

Tapper2
Welcome to the forum.

If you haven't, use the search function on Franklin Skidders. Besides getting some direct responses to your question, there is a ton of information in the archives that should be real interesting reading for you. Not trying to send you off to do homework, but in addition to hearing more about what your plans are for it.

And we like pics too.  8) 8)

[fishpharmer]

Welcome tapper2, you will find out about your skidder here.  Are you a professional logger? Or is the skidder for personal use? 

[tapper2]

The skidder will be for personal use to pull firewood from my property here in upstate N.Y. We currently pull firewood with my J.D. 420c crawler and Ford 1720 tractor with a skidding blade that I built. I also use my '49 Willy's truck w/winch and boom.

I need to put injectors in it, (3-53 Detroit) fix the steering column, and fix the J.D. winch on it. Runs and moves O.K.

[Kansas]

We have an old franklin skidder, 1974 model. From the one piece of documentation we have on it, its first home was in florida, was called a swamp buggy. Its got the detroit in it for a motor, a fuller transmission. Franklin people seem to be really good to work with. One guy we have hired in the past to move it around for us says it looks like something out of the "Mad Max" movies. We sure have pulled a lot of logs out with it.

[tapper2]

Can't get the photos up. Wish I could cut, copy, and paste them here.
When I figure it out I guess. Want to see another one like it.
I haven't really used the skidder except to annoy my neighbors as my woodlot is 35 miles north of my home. For now the other toys will pull the wood there.